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Soccer player Owen Rowlands said support from his family and coaches motivates him.

Owen Rowlands

Even with a stress fracture to his shin, Owen Rowlands had to have his mother remind him to take it easy with the soccer ball.

The 11-year-old Hazleton resident, a fifth-grader at Wyoming Seminary, has a love for the sport that is evident by watching him kick the ball around, despite the injury he received in a recent game.

Practicing several times a week and playing games on the weekends has honed his skills — he was recently named a finalist in the 2015 MLS New York Red Bulls Summer Camp skills competition, coming in the top 10 of players born in 2004. He also recently learned he made the player pool for the Olympic Development Program, and is hoping to make the final roster when it is announced next month.

His motivation comes from the support he gets, he said.

“I know I’m very good at it. I get a lot of praise from my coach, from my mom and dad, and that just keeps me going whether it’s school or soccer,” Owen said. “My favorite part is probably meeting new people.”

Owen’s parents, David and Stacy Rowlands, first got him involved playing soccer in the Greater Hazleton Youth Soccer Association when he was 5 years old. The sport gave Owen, an only child, an opportunity to make friends and work off some energy, Stacy Rowlands said.

“We knew that he needed some kind of sport outlet,” she said.

At the end of the season, Owen said he wanted to keep playing, she said. He played again the following year, but the short fall soccer seasons weren’t enough for Owen. The Kingston Recreation Center’s indoor winter soccer program helped to extend his playing time, she said.

“One of the mothers noticed that Owen was sort of zipping around the kids and really enjoying himself,” Rowlands said. “He seemed to have some natural coordination with his feet, and that person recommended that Owen think about a travel club so he could get more focused training and meet other kids who like soccer.”

At that point, Owen began playing for the Wyoming Valley Soccer Club and ever since he “seems to be consumed with” playing soccer, she said. On a vacation to Jamaica over spring break, for instance, Owen had the opportunity to do any number of ocean activities but chose to play soccer instead, she said.

“He’s on the beach looking for locals to play soccer with,” Rowlands said.

He won’t be able to play organized sports for Wyoming Seminary until he enters seventh grade, but he is “biting at the bit” for that chance, he said. In the meantime, Owen, who plays center and right midfielder, is continually working to improve his skills while making friends along the way. Rowlands said there aren’t many times Owen doesn’t want to go to practice — although he was quick to correct her.

“There’s sometimes when I don’t tell you, but there’s a lot of times where I don’t want to go,” Owen said.

“What makes you want to go?” Rowlands asked.

“I know I’m good at it and I really enjoy it,” he said. “When I get there I enjoy it.”

Despite his injury, Owen was hopeful to be able to compete this month against other top scorers in his age group to become the 2015 Red Bulls Skills Challenge champion. His advice for others working toward a goal?

“No matter how down you feel or if anybody says you’re not good at it, just keep trying,” Owen said. “Just keep trying. Hard work pays off. Practice, practice, practice.”

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